Miles Partnership Art Director Interview Questions
& Process

I interviewed with the hiring manager and then the CD. Both interviews went well and I was excited about the company and the opportunity. I was asked to do a skills assessment which was a take-home exercise. It involved concept and art direction for an ad campaign based on a brief with a 5-day turnaround. I spent a lot of time on it. After I submitted it, I only received confirmation of receipt. I reached out several weeks later to ask about my candidacy but heard nothing back. Normally I would not do spec work for a job but I really liked the company and the people I met so I decided to do it this time. If I had read any reviews about their process and lack of transparency, I would have declined. I hope this helps the next person.

I applied online and HR called me for a phone screen within a week. A few days later, HR told me I was moving on to a test project. I agreed at first, but when I saw how extensive and time-consuming the request was for free work, I emailed HR to withdraw my application. About two weeks after that, the hiring manager contacted me directly to ask if I'd reconsider the test project. I explained that with over 20 years of design experience and a full portfolio, I don't do free work, especially without a guaranteed interview with the hiring manager. She said she'd meet me if I did the project, but I declined again. I suspect they were looking for free ideas they could use as their own, which aligns with other reviews I've seen. It's wrong to invest significant time and energy into a large, free project that doesn't even guarantee an interview or feedback. Designers shouldn't accept this; our portfolios should suffice to showcase our style and skill. If a company doesn't value your expertise enough to pay for a demanding project, they likely won't value you once hired. This behavior devalues our profession, and their salaries are below industry average. It's not worth the hassle.

I had three interviews over two months. First, a phone call and then a design test. Second, an in-person chat with HR and the hiring manager. Third, a team interview where we all got to know each other.